September 9, 2006

Dear Camp Families,

Camp season is over for the year however life at Katama Farm continues…

This fall, Field Trips, Pre-School Mornings, After-School and Saturday programs are all part of the upcoming program calendar. Fall: Food, Farming, & Fun programs connect children to the Island’s harvest traditions while exploring life on the farm. Multiple sessions, throughout each week, provide a number of options for children who want to get back to the farm and help contribute to our daily routine. Please take a look below at what’s coming up and get in touch at your earliest convenience to sign up.

The first of our fall programs will begin on Friday, September 15th. This year we will expand our popular Farmer-in-Training (F.I.T.) to include new students 10 & up who have had some previous experience at the FARM. Students are selected for this program by their desire to be on the farm. If I just described your child please get in touch as soon as possible to reserve space.

On Saturday, September 16th, TFI will offer two sessions for grades K-6. Students can choose between the morning session (9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.) and the afternoon session (12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.) Students in this program will routinely work within their age group and are encouraged to mentor each other as well to balance the experience between work and social skills. 

After-school options will begin on Tuesday, September 19th for grades 1 through 6. Packed with chores, projects and activities, students will help the farmers prepare the farm for winter, participate in the harvest, nurture chickens and interact with other farm animals.

The cost for each of these sessions will be $15 per session with registration & pre-payment for the complete program. Although, it is preferred that students commit to the full season in advance, Saturday “drop-ins” will be accepted with 48 hours advance notice. The daily rate will be $20 per session.

FYI - TFI has once again joined forces with the YMCA Creative Choices program to offer another session after school. YMCA Wednesdays at the FARM is anticipated to start last week of September. If interested in the YMCA’s Wednesdays please contact the YMCA program Director, Tom Hallahan directly at 508.696.7171 ext. 3 for further information and to register. 

In addition to programs for the elementary bunch, this fall we will offer Wee Farmer Mornings for 3 & 4 year olds accompanied by a parent. Every other Friday, beginning September 22nd from 10:30 to 11:30, little ones are invited to attend a one-hour program where children are engaged in specific topics such as goats, garden, cows, sheep, chickens etc… Sessions will be led by Mary Baker, a retired teacher whom many of you met on the farm this summer and will have both a minimum and maximum number of spaces so please register early to avoid disappointment.

Last of all, we want you to be aware of our field trip options and hope that you will encourage your children’s teachers to inquire about how we can meet their specific curriculum goals.  Trips are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday mornings throughout the school year and provide valuable connections to science, math, literature, social studies and history through farming.
 
Thanks for your support and most especially for sharing your children with us. Please contact me with any questions or comments.

Take Care,

Melinda

Fall: Food, Farming, & Fun

Saturday Mornings: 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Saturday Afternoons: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
10-week session beginning September 16th
Grades K - 8

Tuesday After-School: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
10-week session beginning September 19th
Grades 1 - 6

YMCA Wednesdays: 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Contact Tom at YMCA for details – 508.696.7171x3
Grades 1 - 6

Friday F.I.T. (Farmers-in-Training)
10-week session beginning September 15th
Grades 5 – 8 (previous experience required)

For details and to register contact:
Melinda Rabbitt DeFeo
Education Program Manager
508.627.7007 – office
melinda@farminstitute.org
www.farminstitute.org